Advertising apparatus.



E. KLUCHANSKY.

ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5,1916.

g INVENTOR Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I E BY E. KLUCHANSKY.

ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEF), 1916.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENW WITSS an i sriarns PATENT cannon.

EUGENE KLUCHANSKY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' envnnrrsmc APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE KLUCI-IANSKY, a subject of Russia, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Advertising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an advertising apparatus, and more particularly an apparatus which embodies a plurality of movable signs and means for imparting movement thereto.

The object of the invention, is to provide an apparatus of this character by which a large number of signs may be exhibited in a simple and eificient manner; a structure which is adapted to withstand wind strains when the same is positioned in the open; and a structure wherein atmospheric changes are compensated for so that the operativeness of the apparatus will not be aflected by intense heat or intense cold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of signs which are movable, and the bodily movement ofwhich signs may be translated into movement of bodies mounted on the individual signs.

Features of the invention other than those specified, and advantages thereof, will be apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated difl'erent practical embodiments of the present invention, but the constructions shown therein are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an advertising apparatus embodying the present invention, only two signs and a portion of a third being shown in the interest of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away in the interest of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail section of the preferred form of sign supporting member.

Figs. 5 and 6 show in plan and elevation, respectively, a portion of a driving chain which I may employ.

' Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a pair of rails which are mounted to form a Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Apr, 2%, 1191?, Application filed June 5, 1916. Serial No. 101,710.

continuous track, shown in Fig. 1 as a loop of substantially oblate spheroidal shape. These tracks may be mounted in any desired pos1t1on or location such, for example, as

' upon the roof of a building or upon-brackets extending outwardly beyond the walls of the bu1ld1ng. The location of the track is inconsequential, so far as the invention is concerned, since it may be located in any position wherein the objects moving thereon are readily visible. The structure shown in the drawings is mounted upon a substantially plane surface, the rails being supported on standards B.

The gage of the track is substantially uniform so that a plurality of trucks or carriages C, G, 0 etc., may be mounted for travel upon the track. Trucks C, C, C may be of any shape desired, but are hereln shown as embodying a substantially rectangular platform on the under side of which are mounted four roller carrying members D.

Members D may vary in form, but the preferred construction is shown in detail in Fig. 4. Each embodies a bifurcated depending bracket 03, carrying a supporting roller d, adapted to rest upon the face of the track A, and at the lower end of each arm of the bracket is positioned a roller d which rollers extend in under the head of the rail and engage with the web thereof. The construction is such that the roller d supports the structurevertically, while the rollers d preclude lateral thrust and also retain the roller 03 in contact with the rail so that the bracket cannot inadvertently leave the rail. The trucks or carriages are thus individually mounted for travel upon the rails, are precluded from lateral sway and cannot inadvertently leave the track.

Carriages C, C, C are provided at or near their front edges with upstanding walls E, E, E respectively, the front surface of which is adapted for display purposes. The walls are maintained in proper angular relation relative to the platforms of their respective carriages by means of braces e, or in any other suitable manner, so that the construction will be strong and rigid and capable of withstanding the strains occasioned by heavy winds when the apparatus is positioned in the open. The signs which it is desired to exhibit or delineate are suitably formed upon the front surface of the walls E, E, E which, for clearness sake, will each be hereinafter termed a signboard, and on these sign boards may be movable devices or pictorial figures analogou to the subject matter and the respective signs, and operated in a manner hereinafter more fully described.

Positioned between the rails A, and preferably below the same, is an endless driving chain F which is guided at the turns of the track by a plurality of directional rollers or sprockets f. A l0op f is formed in the chain, which loop extends between two directional sprockets f and around a third sprocket F, by which it is driven. Sprocket f is fixed on a shaft f*, to which is also fixed a bevel-gear f driven from any suitable prime mover, such as an electric motor f When the motor f is operated, rotation is imparted to the drive structure 7, with the result that the chain F is caused to travel.

When the apparatus of this invention is set up for operation in the open, such, for example, as on the roof of a building, the apparatus may be very extensive, 2'. e., the chain may be 100 or more feet in length. A metallic chain of this length will be more or less affected by atmospheric changes in that it will expand when the temperature is relatively high, and contract when the temperature is relatively low. In order to compensate for this expansion and contraction, one of the rollers f is preferably made adjustable by mounting the pillow block 9, in which the roller is supported for rotation, on a guide way 9' for sliding movement. If desired, the pillow block may be impelled in a direction to maintain the chain taut at all times by means of a spring 9 as will be readily understood.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, the chain F is formed in substantially the same manner as the well known type of sprocket chain which embodies a plurality of links pivotally connected together as usual. It differs, however, from the well known form in that, at spaced distances along the chain, a link is provided which is formed with an upstanding post I. In Fig. 2 of the drawings three such posts are shown and, as the chain is driven in the manner specified, the posts travel along in upstanding positions and are adapted to engage with the depending members 71 2' mounted on the under side of the respective carriages, and extending downwardly into the path of the upwardly projecting posts I. I

For reasons hereinafter manifest, mem bers z" 4"" are angular in cross section, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1 and the posts I enter the angle at the lower ends of these members and impart movement to the carriages. In other words, as the chain travels along, one of the posts I will come times, the straight stretches of the track' are provided with intermediate channel members J which serve as guide Ways for the chain F, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These channel members preclude the twisting or turning of the chain so that the posts are at all times maintained in their upstanding position. Moreover, the guides also preclude the disengagement 'of the posts from the depending members of the carriages so that the proper driving operation is at all times assured.

From the foregoing description, it will be manifest that as movement is imparted to the chain F, said chain moves all of the sign supporting carriages mounted on the track. If the chain is moving in a clockwise direction, one of theposts I will drive a cooperating carriage from one directional sprocket f around the entire circuit to the other directional sprocket F. It will be manifest, however, that in passing around the loop 7, the posts I must necessarily become disengaged from the depending portions of the carriages and, if some means were not provided for moving the carriages between the times when one post becomes disengaged from the depending member and another post comes into cooperative engagement therewith, the spaced relation between the carriages could not be maintained con stant. Accordingly, the successive carriages are preferably coupled together by chains 0, or any other suitable form of coupling, and this connection serves at all times to maintain all of the carriages in relative spaced relation to its adjoining carriages. As one or more posts are in engagementwith some of the carriages at all times, these posts will serve to impart movement to any particular carriage while passing the loop f, at which time it is not in direct cooperation with the driving chain.

It is now well recognized that the best advantages in advertising may be obtained by moving parts which catch the eye of the observer and, accordingly, I have evolved a construction whereby the movement of any carriage along its track may be translated into different movements adapted to actuate movable objects mounted on the signboard of each carriage. Thus, in Figs. 2 and 3 the signboard E is shown as provided upon its face with a disk or plate L, mounted for rotation. The shaft which carries the disk L extends through and beyond the rear face of the signboard and it isprovided with a pulley or sprocket-wheel Z. The shaft (i which carries one of the foreases? l ward rollers 03, is also provided with a fixed sprocket or pulley Z and around the pulleys or sprockets Z Z is a chain or belt Z As the carriage moves along the track, the roller d necessarily rotates and thus rotary movement is transmitted by the pulley or sprocket chain Z to the shaft of the disk L, with the result that rotary movement is imparted to said disk.

In order that the signboard may be illua stationary lamp or lamps n of the signboard, and also leads to a brush 0 fixed on the face of the board, and is adapted to contact at all times with a collector ring 0' fixed on the back of the moving plate L.

are electrically connected with the collector ring 0. No return circuit is necessary as the third rail is fed from a main or other suitable source such as a motor generator M, one pole of which is grounded to one of the tracks A, as shown in Fig. 3,. so that the return circuit may be in the form of a ground.

The motion of the plate L has been described as one of simply rotation, but manifestly, this invention is not limited to such motion only and, for this reason, I have shown the signboard E as provided with a movable part having a diflerent form of motion. That is to say, the said signboard is shown as provided on its face with the representation of a sledge hammer having the usual handle P. The end of the handle opposite the head of the hammer is bent at substantially right angles to the handle proper and extends through and is journaled in the wall of the signboard E After passing through the board, the free end is offset as shown in detail in Fig. 7. The sledge is thus mounted for pivotal movement, and in order to make the efl'ect realistic, on the front of the signboard may be formed, painted or otherwise delineated, an anvil, the effect being that the sledge is periodically striking the anvil. Mounted on the rear of the board is a cam p and afiixed thereto is a sprocket-wheel or pulley p. With the sprocket-wheel or pulley p cooperates a belt Z driven from a pulley or sprocket wheel Z as hereinbefore described in connection with the signboard E.

The cam 10 imparts eccentric movement to the concealed arm of the sledge handle, with the result that the exposed portion of the hammer periodically rises and falls.

It will, of course, be understood that the face of the signboard E may be illuminated in substantially the same mandler as herein before described relative to signboard E, and that electric lamps placed upon the sledge hammer may be supplied from a circuit through brushes or other flexible connections'.

Moreover, while I have shown these two specific mechanisms for translating the rotation of the rollers 03 into diflerent forms of a movable body on the signboard, it will be understood that these showings are illustrative pnly, and that any desired form of movement may be had by simply varying the mechanical connections between the two parts; thus, in the figure of a person placed on the face of the sign, a swinging movement might be imparted to one or more of the limbs from cooperating gears, cams or eccentrics. It will'be understood, that any of these devices may be employed in carrying out this invention and this means will depend entirely upon the particular movement desired.

In the foregoing description, the driving chain F is described as positioned beneath the tracks A, and this is a very satisfactory arrangement since it is practically concealed from the observers of the signs.

Other details of the constructionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art in the modifying of the illustrative structure shown, to adapt it to the various environments in which it may be employed, and it is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the specific details of structure enumerated, but is as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a plurality of carriages mounted for movement along the track, exhibiting signs mounted on said carriages, an endless driving member mounted for movement adjacent the track and provided with projections, means for actuating said driving member, and projections on the carriages extending into the path of the projections of the driving member whereby the projections of the driving member engage with the projections on the carriages and cause said carriages to move along the track.

2. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a plurality of carriages mounted for movement along the track, exhibiting signs mounted on said carriages, an endless driving member movable adj acentthe track and provided with projections, projections on the carriages extending into the path of the projections of the driving member whereby they are engaged by said projections on the driving member and the carriage is caused to move along the track, a loop in the driving member extending out of the path of travel of the projections on the carriage, and means cooperating with the loop for actuating the driving member.

3. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a plurality of carriages mounted for movement along a track, exhibiting signs mounted upon the carriages, an endless drive chain provided with projections adapted to engage with the carriages for moving them along the track, said drive chain being provided with a loop extending out of the path of travel of the carriages,

directional means for guiding the drive chain in parallel relation with the track, a

driving sprocket in said loop, and means for rotating the sprocket to impart movement to the drive chain.

4:. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a plurality of carriages mounted for movement along the track, exhibiting signs on said carriages, an endless drive chain provided with projections adapt ed to cooperate with the carriages for moving them along the track, a pair of directional sprockets around which the drive chain extends and is formed in a loop-between the sprockets which loop extends laterally out of the path of said carriages, means cooperating with the loop of the drive chain for imparting movement thereto, and means cooperating with one of said directional sprockets for taking up the slack of the chain.

5. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a plurality of carriages mounted for movement along the track, an endless driving member provided with projections, a pair of directional rollers around which the driving member extends and is formed into a loop between said rollers, means cooperating with the loop of the driving member for imparting movement to said driving member, projections on the carriages adapted to be engaged by the projections on the driving member to move the carriages along the track from one directional roller around the track to the. other directional roller, and connections between the successive carriages for moving them across the space between the two rollers.

6. An advertising device embodying an endless track, rollers mounted on the track, a carriage supported by said rollers, means for causing the carriage to travel along the track, a sign-board mounted on the carriage, a movable part mounted upon the signboard, and driving connections between the movable part on the sign-board and the carriage supporting rollers, whereby the rotation of said rollers imparts movement to the movable part of the sign-board.

7. An advertising device embodying an endless track, rollers mounted on the track, a carnage supported by said rollers, means for causln the carriage to travel along the track, a slgn-board mounted on the carrlage, a movable part mounted v upon the sign-board, driving connections between the movable part on the sign-board and the carriage supportingrollers, whereby the rotation of said rollers imparts movement to the movable part of the sign-board, illuminatlng devices positioned on the movable part an electric circuit associated with the carnage, and electrical connections between the illuminating devices of the movable part and the electric circuit of the carriage.

8. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a sign, rollers associated with. the sign for mounting'said sign for longitudinal movement along the track, a display device mounted for movement upon the sign, driving connections between the display device and the sign-carrying rollers whereby the display device moves relatively to the sign when the sign is moved along the track, and means for moving the sign along the track.

9. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a wheeled carriage movable along the track, a sign on said carriage, a display device mounted for movement on the sign, driving connections between the display device and the carriage whereby the display device moves relatively to the sign when the carriage is moved along the track, means for moving the carriage along the track, and means for precluding inadvertent derailment of the carriage.

10. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a plurality of wheeled carriages mounted for movement along the track, an endless drive chain provided with a plurality of upstanding posts, a projection on each carriage depending into the path of the posts of the drive chain, a plurality of directional rollers for determining the path of the drive chain to assure cooperative relation between the posts and the projections of the carriages, guiding means for maintaining the posts of the drive chain in upstanding position, and means for imparting movement to the drive chain, in combination with display means positioned on each carriage and movable therewith.

11. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a plurality of wheeled carriages mounted for movement along the track, an endless drive chain provided with a plurality of upstanding posts, a projection on each carriage depending into the path of the posts of the drive chain, a plurality of directional rollers for determining the path of the drive chain to assure cooperative relation between the posts and the meter projections of the carriages, guiding means for maintaining the posts of the drive chain in upstanding position, and means for impartmg movement to the drive chain, in combination with a sign-board mounted on each carriage and movable therewith, a movable part mounted on the sign-board, and means operable by the bodily movement of the carriage and signboard for actuating the movable part of the sign-board.

12. An advertising device embodying an endless track, a plurality of wheeled carriages mounted for movement along the track, an endless drive chain provided with a plurality of upstanding posts, a projection on each carriage depending into the path of the posts of the drive chain, a plurality of directional rollers for determining the path of the drive chain to assure cooperative relation between the posts and the projections of the carriages, guiding means for maintaining the posts of the drive chain in upstanding position, and means for imparting movement to the drive chain, in combination with a sign-board mounted on each carriage and movable therewith, a movable part mounted on the sign-board, means operable by the bodily movement of the carriage and si -board for actuating the movable part 0 the sign-board, electrical dis play devices on said movable part, and electrical connections between the carriage and the display devices for energizing the latter.

13. An advertising device embodying an end- 3 5 less track, a sign member mounted for movement along the track, and means for imparting mounted on the movable part, a conductor rail, a shoe mounted on the sign member and adapted to engage with the conductor rail, and electrical connections between the shoe and the electrical display devices on the movable part of the sign member.

14. An advertisingdevice embodying an endless track, a sign. member mounted for movement along the track, and means for imparting movement to the sign member, in combination with a movable part mounted on the sign member, means actuated by the bodily movement of the sign member for operating the movable part, electrical display devices mounted on the movable part, a conductor rail, a shoe mounted on the sign member and adapted to engage with the conductor rail, electrical connections between the shoe and the, electrical display devices on the movable part of the sign member, additional electrical display devices positioned on the sign member, and electrical connec tions between said devices and the shoe for energizing said devices from the conductor rail.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EUGENE KLUCHANSKY. 

